Improvement in trolling-hooks



nm L A R F.- G Z T `El L T.

Trailing-Hunks.

Patentedjan'. 13.1374.-

WTNEESEE:

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS F. FITZGERALD, OF ROCKPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TROLLlNG-HOQKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,443, dated January13, 1874; application filed December 12, 1873. V

To au who-m it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. FITZGERALD, of Rockport, in the county ofEssex and in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Trolling- Hooks; and do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing making a part of thisspecification, in whichi Figure I is a side elevation of my improveddevice. Fig. 2 is a section on linex x of Fig. 1.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The present invention relates to a device for catching squids or smallfish for bait; and it consists in the method or means by which pins orhooks are secured to or upon a piece of lead or metal, so that theyshall be firmly and securely fastened thereto, and thus not only beeffective in the use for which they are intended, by the arrangementadopted, but shall not easily get out of place or order.

This device is usually called a squid-jiggen1;

In the drawings, A designates the lead or metal body of the jigger. Thismay be made of any suitable size or form, but, preferably, I shouldchoose to use substantially the same form I have illustrated in thedrawing, namely,

' elongated or fish shaped. B is the head, which is made of aconsiderably larger diameter than the portion of the body to which it isjoined,

thus affording on its upper side, or the side toward the body, a flangeor shoulder, upon which the pins or hooks U may be rested. The pins orhooks may be made of any suitable metal, and of any desirable shape orsize. The ends or the heads of these pins or hooks rest on the neck ofthe body of the jigger adjacent to the head, which is recessedsufficiently to allow7 the cord or twineV D, when firmly wound about thesaid pins or hooks, to fill 'up the same flush with the said neck.

In constructing the jigger the pins or hooks are placed one by one withtheir heads or ends in said recess, while their shoulders or the bentportions rest upon the flange or projection of the head, the cord ortwine being at the same time fastened to each pin or hook by halfhitchesor any secure and suitable knot, and

ends of the hooks or pins until the said hooks or pins are set entirelyaround the periphery of the jigger, and firmly and strongly fastenedthereto. The cord is then tied or fastened at its end. The recessedportion of the neck is usually filled up by the twine, so as to make agood finish and present a seemly appearance. The hooks or pins are bentso that the shoulders rest upon the liange of the head, as is abovedescribed, and thence project considerably be yond the edge of theilange, curving upwardly and slightly inwardly at their points. The endsare made pointed and very sharp. In the small and tail end opposite thehead is a hole for insertion of a line, by means of which the jigger isused. The body is usually made of lead, but any suitable metal can beused. It can be readily run in molds'of the suitable size and shape, orconstructed in any usual manner. Then constructed, as above described,it may be painted or covered with any coloring substance.

By the above description it'will be readily seen how thisdevice isconstructed. y

Its operation in use is accomplished by means of a line attached to thetail end, by which the jigger is held suspended in the water, and movedrapidly up and down. The squids or sh attracted by the jigger, which iskept in rapid mot-ion, as before described, dart at the jigger, and in'attempting to grasp it, by means of the tentacul which surround theirmouths, are caught by the sharp pins, before described, and so heldsecurely. v

Having thus fully set forth the nature and.

merits of my invention, what I claim as new 1s The squid-jigger hereindescribed, consisting of the metal body A, head B, and hooks or pins C,when the several parts are made, combined, and united in the manner andfor the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto set my hand andseal this 9th day of December, 1873.

THOMAS FRANQOIS FITZGERALD. [L s] Witnesses L. S. TUGKERMAN, ANDREWFrrz.

wound around the neck of the jigger and the

